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Queens Oral Surgeon Highlights Dental Care Gaps
Dr. David Tabaroki discusses how everyday challenges impact patients and practices across Queens, New York.
Jan. 27, 2026 at 6:47pm
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Dr. David Tabaroki, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon based in Forest Hills, New York, discusses the common dental care challenges facing patients and practices in the Queens borough of New York City. He notes that issues around access, follow-up, and communication often have a greater impact on dental outcomes than the clinical care itself.
Why it matters
Dental care gaps in Queens and the greater New York City area are widespread, with nearly 1 in 4 adults reporting delayed care due to scheduling or cost concerns. Emergency dental visits in NYC are also higher than the state average, often tied to untreated issues. Dr. Tabaroki believes these problems affect real people every day and require a focus on building consistent, community-oriented dental practices.
The details
Dr. Tabaroki, who has over 20 years of experience building dental practices in Queens and Manhattan, says the issue is rarely effort, but rather structural problems in the system. Challenges include higher no-show rates in dense urban areas, language barriers for multilingual communities, and general confusion around treatment plans and follow-up care. He believes local practices must take a long-term, community-focused approach to truly serve their neighborhoods well.
- Dr. Tabaroki opened Queens Blvd Oral Surgery more than two decades ago.
- He later expanded to Jamaica Estates Oral Surgery and Gramercy Dental Group.
The players
Dr. David Tabaroki
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon based in Forest Hills, New York, who owns Queens Blvd Oral Surgery, Jamaica Estates Oral Surgery, and Gramercy Dental Group.
What they’re saying
“The issue is rarely effort. It's structure.”
— Dr. David Tabaroki, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
“I think in decades, not quarters. That mindset changes how you treat patients and teams.”
— Dr. David Tabaroki, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
“Consistency mattered more than talent. That's true in school, in surgery, and in dentistry.”
— Dr. David Tabaroki, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
What’s next
Dr. Tabaroki encourages local residents to take small actions this week to improve their dental care, such as scheduling a routine checkup, confirming appointments, writing down questions, and following up promptly after procedures.
The takeaway
This story highlights the systemic challenges facing dental care in Queens and the importance of building consistent, community-oriented practices that can address access, communication, and follow-up issues. Dr. Tabaroki's approach of thinking long-term and prioritizing consistency over speed provides a model for how local dental providers can better serve their neighborhoods.
